The Ministers of the Gospel as they are instrumental to seed the Flock so they are instrumental to make the Flock too for the Spirit of God doth accompany their Ministry and makes it effectual to alter corrupted Nature so that those that were before like Dogs like Swine like VVolves like Lyons are changed and they become the Lambs and the Sheep of the Lord Jesus VVhatever kindness is done for the Preachers of the Gospel it is not comparable unto the kindness they do when they are made instrumental unto the Conversion of any Theodosius that wore an Imperial Diadem was sensible of this when he said I thank God more that I have been a member of Christ than that I have been the Emperour of the VVorld The Ministry of the Gospel is the Gift of Christ and if this Gift be despised Christ the giver is contemned and the Father which hath sent him too Luk. 10. 16. He that heareth you heareth me he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me 7. How earnestly should Preachers pray that the Word in their Mouths may be effectual to Conversion Ay and they should call in the help of others Prayers too that they may succeed in the preaching of the Gospel of Reconciliation 2 Thes 3. 1. Finally Brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord might have free course and be glorified even as it is with you Every Sermon that the Preacher makes should be the Gift of Heaven it should be the return of Prayer and both before and after preaching having Heaven and Hell and Precious Souls all in his Eyes together being in a holy agony he should pray with all possible earnestness that precious Souls may not be irrecoverably lost and ruined Memorable is the passage of the Apostles Acts 6. 4. VVe will give our selves continually unto Prayer and unto the Ministry of the word Prayer is first mentioned If by Prayer the Preachers can prevail with God the VVord of God in their Mouths is the more likely to be prevalent with Men. A Preacher should be a man of Bowels and because his own are Marble he should long after the Conversion and Salvation of Souls in the Bowels of Jesus Christ Phil. 1. 8. Alas the Souls that are before him if they won't hear they can't live if they won't repent Destruction is at the door if they won't believe they must be damned and there is no remedy How therefore should we cry to the God whose VVord we preach that he would give Grace to repent Grace to believe Grace to turn to him for though a Paul be the Planter though an Apollo be the Waterer both are nothing but God that gives the increase he is all 1 Cor. 3. 7. 8. If the Word of God be the great means of Conversion then hence I inferr that that Society and Church is to be avoided that takes away this Word from the common People The true Church it doth concern you to know and I will tell you how it may be known it is built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner Stone Eph. 2. 20. There is an agreement between the Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets This Doctrine sets forth Christ as the Foundation of a Christians Faith and Hope sets forth Christ as the only Saviour and as a Saviour to the utmost If therefore this Doctrine be decryed by any those that do decry it are to be avoided It is certainly Hellish cruelty unto Souls to take away the means of Conversion and Salvation from them That can't be the Kingdom of Christ the props of which are Ignorance of the Word of God and an implicite Faith in men The Apostle Paul speaks plainly 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost and v. 6. God who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ But the Practice of many plainly shew that they are of another mind and their mind is this that if the Gospel be revealed it is revealed to them that are lost and that God instead of commanding the Light to shine into the minds of those that are saved doth command darkness to abide there still But here is an Objection that must be removed out of the way Say some If the common People are permitted to look into the Word of God instead of being turned to God they are but likely to mistake his Mind and to run into abundance of errour and so to hurt and poyson themselves An ordinary Objection but it is easily answer'd 1. This is plainly to charge the God of Heaven foolishly and blasphemously as if he had given such a dangerous VVord to his Church as that it is not fit or safe for them to make use of The Objectors don't take notice that God hath with such Goodness Wisdom and care compiled the Holy Scripture that it is a Means to prevent running into Errour and the truest Knowledge is derived from hence Hark to the Psalmist Psal 119. 105. Thy VVord it is a Light unto my Feet and a Lamp unto my Path. Wo to them that put Darkness for Light and Light for Darkness And before v. 104. the Psalmist said Through thy Precepts I get understanding therefore I hate every false way 2. I answer to this Objection That the Jewish Church though in a State of Minority had not the VVord of God withheld from them All were to read it all were to meditate upon it and yield obedience to it Nay observe that even the Children were not to be Ignorant of the Scripture Deut. 6. 6 7. These VVords that I command thee this day shall be in thine Heart and thou shalt teach them diligently to thy Children and thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down and when thou risest up If the Jewish Church which was a Church in Minority had the Word of God generally vouchsafed certainly the Christian Church ought not to be denyed it which are arrived unto a State of greater Maturity as the Apostle intimates Gal. 4. 1 2 3. Lastly Whereas it is said that if the common People read the Scriptures and study the Word of God they will be in danger of running into Errour I answer How much Errour how much mistake is there in gross Ignorance Besides those men that have been the great broachers of Errour and Heresie in the Church of Christ have been men of great parts and men of profound Learning as Arrius and Pelagius and the rest So that if there was any force in this Objection the Word of God must not be medled with by any at all Blessed be God that the humble have a Promise of Guidance and Instruction from Heaven Psal 25. 9. The meek
importunity and solicitations of Satans Instruments but for a Man to be at defiance with himself to be continually almost chiding loathing crossing and opposing himself in this lies the most difficult part of the Christian warfare Within the Converts own Breast is the very heat of the Battel Oh what striving is there against Self-exalting Imaginations what struggling against Self-will and selfish affections and designs And with good reason is Self thus opposed by the Convert since Self does so much oppose the Converts Salvation And if turning be thus Self-denying the prevalency of carnal Interest and the power of Self among Professors of Religion proves that though they are externally Called yet there are few sincere Converts among them How tender are they in point of Gain and Honour and Reputation every person and thing that here stands in their way is a great eye-sore Religion shall stoop to worldly Interest this shall be secured though Faith and Conscience be cast over-board Thus have I consider'd Conversion with reference to the Sinner himself Fourthly Conversion may be consider'd with reference to God The Sinner forsakes him and rebels against him the Convert â—eturns and submits to him 'T is God that â—alls to Conversion and 't is Conversion to â—imself that he calls for Zech. 1. 3. Turn â—e unto me saith the Lord of Hosts and I â—ill turn unto you saith the Lord of Hosts 1. Conversion is a turning to the living â—nd true God 1 Thes 1. 9 10. Ye turned to God from Idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from Heaven â—ven Jesus who delivered us from the Wrath â—o come The glorious and gracious Jehoâ—ah who made Heaven and Earth and â—reserves and governs all things who promised a Seed to Adam that should bruise â—he Serpents Head who renewed his Coveâ—ant with Abraham who spake from Mount Sinai to Israel who has deliver'd lively Oraâ—les by the Prophets and Apostles in the Hoâ—y Scriptures and who is the God and Faâ—her of Jesus Christ and has sent him to â—e a Propitiation and Saviour this Jehoâ—ah is the only living and true God and â—s such is known and acknowledged by â—very true Convert 2. Conversion is a turning to God for Himself Jer. 4. 1. If thou wilt return O Isâ—ael saith the Lord return unto me q. d. 〈◊〉 Israel expect all safety protection all manner of Benefits and Blessings from my hand but place thy principal happiness in my self The Hypocrite seems to turn and seek unto God but 't is for the Creatures sake his Security or advantage is in his Eye The Convert by the Creatures is led unto God and though he should receive never so many temporal Mercies he would look upon himself as miserable unless with the Mercies he enjoyed the Father of them 3. Conversion is a choosing of God before all things such a choice is wise and rational Moses saw Him that is Invisible and saw so much in him that the Egyptian Crown and Throne were esteemed trifles in comparison of Communion with the God of Israel The Psalmist though he had just had a sight of worldly Mens Prosperity and was ready to envy them their happiness yet going into the Sanctuary he did discern that in God which eclips'd and obscured the whole World with all its Wealth and Dignity and made it look but like a great and empty Bubble and he cries out Psal 73. 25. Whom have 〈◊〉 in Heaven but Thee and there is none oâ— Earth that I desire besides Thee The Convert chuses God for his Portion and accounts no other heritage so goodly He had rather have the Lord to be his God his own God as the Phrase is Psal 67. 6. and â—o enjoy the light of his countenance than â—o have the greatest abundance of Corn and Wine and whatsoever on Earth is call'd desirable There is a twofold enjoyment of God on Earth and in Heaven On Earth God is known but in part and Sin remaining in the very best is still a bar unto compleat Communion with him which shall be the priviledge of all that come to Heaven The Convert values fellowship with God in his Ordinances but principally â—ongs for the Vision of God face to face in his Kingdom he begs to be kept in the path of Life and to be brought at last to that heavenly City which has eternal foundations in which God does for ever vouchsafe his glorious Presence where God himself is All in All where there is fulness of Joy and Pleasures forevermore Psal 16. â—ult 4. Conversion is a devoting the whole Man to God. 'T is said of the Macedonians that most willingly they gave of their substance to a good use and they gave their own selves unto the Lord 2 Cor. 8. 5. Whos 's I am says the Apostle and whom I serve Act. 27. 23. 'T is the very Language of a Convert and he speaks it from his Heart The Convert is sensible he is not a Debtor to the flesh to live after the flesh Fleshly Lusts do war against the Soul and he that lives after the flesh shall dye Neither is he a Debtor to the World the World is not worthy of his Heart which can neither be a sufficient Price for Mans Redemption nor affords him any true Contentment But the Convert reckons himself a Debtor to God as his Creator Preserver Owner Redeemer and to be under innumerable Obligations to be subject to Him and active and zealous in his Service Well may Religion be styled Righteousness for all the acts of it which the Lord calls for he justly claims as due to him And since those bonds which Converts are under are bonds of Love and Kindness as well as Duty 't is most unreasonable for any to say as Psal 2. 3. Let us break these bands asunder and cast away these cords from us 5. Conversion to God is a transformation into his Image and Likeness 2 Cor. 3. 17 18. VVhere the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty and we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory The Apostle intimates that the Image of God is Mans glory and that his glory is the greater the more fully this Image is instampt upon him and that all that are Converted are changed into this Image Not a true Convert but partakes of the divine Nature and escapes the Corruption that is in the World. This Image of God consists in Knowledge Righteousness Holiness and Dominion over the Creatures All these things were lost by Adam's defection all are recovered in Conversion and the recovery is more compleat as Conversion is progressive The Convert is called out of Darkness into marvellous Light his Heart is made pure and clean his Works are righteous and the Creatures no longer Lord it over him but he makes them subservient to the religious designs he is carrying on Converts are in a sense the
shine To turn with the whole Heart is for the whole to turn excellent for the whole to be secured Be never satisfied till you perceive that God has your love which is indeed the leading and commanding Affection If Sin if Mammons Pleasures and Wealth have still your love your professing your selves Converts is all but feigned kindness and you provoke the Lord to jealousiè Give unto God your Love which he calls for in the first and great Commandment or else you give him nothing if your love be given him you will not deny him any thing And if as yet you can't shew your love by delighting in God because of your doubts and the darkness of your state shew your love by desiring after God whose loving kindness is better than Life whose Alsufficiency is enough and enough and infinitely more than enough for you But here 's the difficulty How shall the Heart of Man be brought unto the love of God The Stream of the affections runs naturally and violently downwards and how shall the tide be turned how shall the love be carried quite contrary to the bent of Nature Certainly this must be the doing of the God of all Grace The Apostle prayes for the Thessalonians that the Lord would direct their hearts into the love of God 2 Thes 3. 5. Put up this Petition for your selves 'T is an encouraging Scripture Deut. 30. 6. The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy Soul that thou mayest live apply it improve it and if you grudge your love to every thing else and are continually offering it to God and above all things in the World desire to love him and to be beloved of him Love is already wrought the acts of it appear and you shall by degrees love more sensibly and the stronger the love the more sound the Conversion 10. Deceive not your selves with faint wishes and half-willingness to be Converted I grant that the desire of Grace is Grace but if there be not Truth in the desire the Truth of Grace can't be concluded from it A lazy wish to be Converted where there is a prevailing resolution to connive at and continue in Sin what does it signifie but that the Heart is not right with God notwithstanding some feeble good inclinations towards him Our Lord commands his Followers to strive to enter in at the strait gate because many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able Luk. 13. 24. Many hereafter shall seek and expect admission into Heaven who shall be excluded because they would not strive they would not use an holy violence to take that Kingdom Many over hastily conclude they are Converted because there is some little inclination to what is good though a stronger inclination to what is evil without check does bear the sway in them In spiritual as well as natural lukewarmness there is some mixture of heat as well as a prevalency of cold Can water be called hot where heat is least and cold is most Can the Heart be said to be turned to God which is least inclined towards him and most strongly and resolvedly bent towards Sin and Vanity Oh take heed of Sloth and Idleness Sloth is that which has brought many a Conviction to nothing you can hardly name a greater Impediment of Conversion Upon thousands of Professors Tombs this may be written Here lye those who have undone themselves by Slothfulness and miss'd of Grace and Glory because they would take Pains for neither If you would be Conveâ—â—s indeed abandon Idleness let your very Hearts be in every Duty your Souls and the strength of them the fervency of your Spirits in every Ordinance of God Rom. 12. 11. Not slothful in business especially not in the main business servent in Spirit serving the Lord. Satisfie not your selves in a customary and formal using of the means of Grace but look to this that life and warmth and strength and Grace be indeed conveyed to you in them 11. Would you be Converts indeed look much into another World confine not your sight and thoughts to the things of time and sense but take the Perspective of the Word of God that to the eye of your Faith things unseen may become evident Heb. 11. â— Time is so short a thing that you may easily and quickly see to the end of it and yet concerning this short Time it may be said that Now you must be turn'd or Never At the end of Time Death stands thousands feel his stroke every day before your eyes and how soon may you feel his deadly Dart and return to the dust out of which we were all taken where 's the Man that upon good ground can say He is sure to live a Year a Month a VVeek a Day to an end Just behind Death is Judgment and at the Bar of God who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the Counsels of the Heart what will a shew of Grace and of Conversion signifie At that Bar all the Children of Men must receive their final and unalterable Doom from that Tribunal there can be no Appeal to another there is no higher Judge than he who shall judge the quick and the dead at his Appearing and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4. 1. The Sentence which he will Pronounce will stand good and firm for ever and 't will be a Sentence either to eternal Glory or everlasting Flames And know that Conversion now will make the Discrimination then only Converts will stand in Judgment only those that sincerely â—urn'd to God in this World will be received into his Joy and Kingdom in the other World. But as for the Unconverted who would not turn from Sin they shall without any Pity or hopes of any according as they were threatned and have justly deserved be turned into Hell and there will be no remedy You are all posting away from hence and shall shortly hear the Word and be seen your selves no more A serious belief and consideration of the eternal Joyes and eternal Woes of another World would have a mighty Influence upon the very worst of you to make you of another of a better Mind VSE VI. Of Consolation unto Converts There is a Consolation that has a Woe joyn'd with it VVoe to you rich Men for ye have received your Consolation The Wicked and the Hypocrite have their Peace and Joy but their Peace is false and their Joy but for a moment but the Converts Comfort is styled both strong and everlasting Consolation Here I shall first give you the Converts Character and then lay down the Grounds of his Comfort and indeed true Comfort belongs to none in the World but true Converts Though I have spoken a great deal already to shew who are Converted yet I shall add these Signs following 1. Converts chuse God for their Portron rather than the World Thou art my Portion O Lord I have said
let them hear them And after 't is answered further If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead Luk. 16. 27 -31 A Sinner whose Heart is all Adamant and Sermon-proof the terrours of the Lord don't affright him the inestimable Treasures of the Gospel don't take him the Mediatours Vengeance for neglecting great Salvation is not at all dreaded Suppose a command should be given to unlock the gates of Hell and a damned Spirit that has been for some time tortur'd in the slames there and was once well known to this stupid Sinner should at Midnight appear to him and the Curtains being drawn aside and that Soul out of the midst of fire with a ghastly horrour in its looks should thus speak to Him Awake hard-hearted Wretch awake awake What sleep and lye secure in Sin that art in danger of dying in Sin every moment VVhat take thine ease who art so near to endless pain and Torment Thy time has both Feet and VVings and is with great haste both running and flying away from thee and as thy time in Sin and folly spends so thou daily and hourly approache◠nearer to a miserable Eternity Thy Judgment lingers not thy Damnation does not slumber while thou refusest to awake to Righteousness Once I made a mock of Sin as much as thou dost was mad to destroy my self as thou art I made a meer Jest of Hell but now I know I feel and wo wo is me I shall to my Sorrow feel for ever what 't is to be damn'd in earnest Sin 's thy worst Enemy Oh cast it away before it undoe thee past remedy Divine wrath and jealousie is in the other World found a hotter and heavier thing than ever could be conceived in this 'T is really a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But I have leave to stay no longer be sure to take this warning I have given thee I must again to the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone where there are no such things as Help or Hope or Happiness but Pain and Misery are extream and endless Suppose I say a damned Soul should speak such language to a Sinner that has all along been deaf to the call of the Word and resisted the Spirit of the Lord he might perhaps be exceedingly amazed and possibly be frighted out of his VVits but he would not be scared out of his Sins nor ever by such an Apparition alone be turned unto God. If Gods own Word will not make thee a Convert O Sinner thy disease is obstinate against the likeliest remedy and what means will 5. The Word is a Means which Thousands and Millions in the VVorld never were so much Priviledg'd as to enjoy An Hallelujah is justly deserved and expected from the People of God of old because he shewed his Word unto Jacob his Statutes and Judgments to the Children of Israel whereas He had not dealt so with any Nation and as for his Judgments they had not known them Psal 147. 19 20. How great a part of the World is Satans Common how little comparatively is so much as the visible Inclosure of our Lord Jesus It is the observation of a Learned man that if the World were divided into thirty parts Nineteen would be found still Pagan six Mahometan and but five Christian take in all of all Perswasions But alas how much darkness is there even in Nations that are called Christian Ignorance is affected the Word of God and the Knowledg of it is taken away though the Scripture says that for lack of it people are destroyed Hos 4. 6. How Happy would you be that in this City enjoy the light of the Word of Truth if you would but thankfully and fruitfully improve it It is as it were Noon day with you whereas in other places it is but a dark down and in most parts of the Earth a black midnight In the fourth place I am to tell you whence this Means the Word of God comes to be effectual to Conversion 'T is made effectual by the Power of God and this Power he exerts by his own Spirit 1 Thes 1. 5. Our Gospel came not unto you in word only but in Power also and in the Holy Ghost and in much Assurance the wonderful effects of Divine Power wrought by the Holy Ghost in the Preaching of the Gospel was an Evidence and Assurance that this Gospel is not the Word of Man but of God Himself Now the manner of the Spirits working when he makes the Word effectual to Conversion I shall declare in these particulars 1. The Spirit impresses upon the Sinners Heart the Divine Authority of this Word 'T is indeed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 given by inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. When the Lord Himself is eyed and own'd in his Word then it shews it self mighty If the Messengers and Publishers of the Word only are regarded and there is not a looking beyond them they being but earthen vessels the Word though a Treasure will be trampled under foot But when Sinners are Converted the Spirit makes it evident that the Word is really of God. The demonstration of this is styled the demonstration of the Spirit He does demonstrate the Words divine Authority several wayes By Signs and VVonders wrought for its Confirmation Heb. 2. 4. God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the holy Ghost according to his own will. That these Miracles were done 't is plain for the Word of God pretending to Miracles done so openly so often by and upon so many persons in the midst of cunning and malicious Adversaries who were watchful enough to have espied the deceit if there had been any if such Miracles really had never been wrought this Word and the Religion it teaches would never have been received Our Lord Jesus though the Son of God when upon Earth was humbled in the form of a Servant yet affirms himself to be the Saviour of the VVorld preaches a Doctrine contrary to Flesh and Blood tells all that will be his Disciples they must deny themselves and forsake all that is dear to them in this World whenever they are called to it for the sake of a Treasure and Kingdom in Heaven And often he appeals to his working Miracles as a Confirmation of his Doctrine that it was from Heaven Now if such Miracles had never been wrought the Imposture would have been so apparent that the Christian Faith would never have been embraced by any of common sense and understanding And 't is evident also that these Miracles were done by the power of God. Wonders indeed were wrought by the Egyptian Magicians but outvied by greater Wonders effected by Moses Gods Servant These Miracles were beyond the Power and Ability of second Causes Who could make the blind to see and the deaf to hear and the lame to walk but that God who formed the Eye
will he guide in Judgment and the meek will he teach his way And while Christians are using the Word of God if they cry to the Father of Lights that gives wisdom liberally without upbraiding they shall have a Heart to know him that he is the Lord Jer. 24. 7. and they shall return to him with the whole Heart 9. Hence I inferr That we should be such lovers of Mankind as to wish the whole World did enjoy the Word of God the great means of Conversion It should be a sadning thought to our Hearts that though all mankind have sinned and are in a lost estate the Word of God that informs concerning the only Saviour is known to so very few The Jewish Church of old for hundreds of years did put up that Prayer and at length it was answered in the Vocation and calling of the Gentiles Psal 67. 〈◊〉 That thy way may be known upon the Earth and thy saving health among all Nations Christians should Pray in the same strain that this Petition may be heard further Christians should be compassionate Intercessours for the poor World that lyes in darkness and wickedness that the Light of the Gospel may come wherever the Sun in the Firmament shines that so whole Kingdoms and Nations by thousands and by millions may not thus throng the way to Hell for want of Saving Knowledge and Converting Grace And as we should pity and pray for the Infidel VVorld so we should pity and pray for poor Posterity that they when they come to be born into England may find this a Land of Light for if we should leave them without the glorious Gospel of the blessed God we should leave them under Sathans Power and in the Conâ—lâ—es of Hell O let us put on Bowels and pray hard that those that shall be born twenty forty a hundred years hence and more may find England the Land of Immanuel and may be priviledged with the Word of God that may be a means of their being regenerate and born again 10. Lastly Hence I inferr How inexcusable those are that turn the VVord of God the great means of Conversion and Salvation into a deadly savour to themselves O the evil Nature of that Sin of unbelief the evil Heart of unbelief doth make the greatest Blessings to become Curses To grow more blind under the Light to grow more deaf and disobedient the louder God calls to grow more barren and unfruitful notwithstanding all advantages to make you thrive in Grace and Goodness what excuse can be brought for this To receive the Grace of God in vain is a very great folly but to turn the Grace of God into wantonness to Sin because Grace doth abound this is to turn the very Remedy and Antidote into Poyson and to perish the more certainly the more fearfully The Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 2. 16. telleth us that his Ministry was a savour of death unto death to some they grew more dead more estranged from God and Holiness even while they heard the Gospel that is a Doctrine according to Godliness preached to them and growing more dead 〈◊〉 a spiritual sence eternal Death did prove the sorer to them That man that under the Word of God grows worse and worse comes daily to hear but goes away more vain more filthy more wedded to his will and to his hateful and hurtful lusts this Man is indeed desparately wicked this man doth fix himself under the Laws Curse he pulls down upon his own Head the Mediators Vengeance and after his hardness and impenitent Heart treasures up unto himself wrath against the day of wrath and the Revelation of the righteous Judgment of God. The second Use is by way of Reproof If the Word be the great means of Conversion several sorts of Persons are sharply to be reprehended 1. Those that dislike and hate the VVord of God these are Fools in the worst and most dangerous sence that hate Instruction and cast the Laws of God behind their backs Psal 50. 17. These are bruitish that can't endure to be reproved for doing harm to themselves they are certainly bewitched that will not obey the Truth Gal. 3. 1. As Christ says For which of my good works do ye stone me so say I For which of the good Effects of the VVord of God do you hate it It is Light in darkness a means of conveying Life to the dead Food to the hungry a Cordial to the fainting a Sword to secure you against and to conquer your spiritual Enemies And therefore if you dislike this Word of God you are even unto sottishness without understanding It is a Scripture phrase Jer. 4. 22. My people are foolish they have not known me they are sottish Children and without understanding they are wise to do evil but to do good they have no knowledge 2. Those are sharply to be reproved who endeavour to hinder the Efficacy of the VVord of God upon others this they do by ill Counsel and by worse Example This they do by being Contentious against the Truth and by pleading for unrighteousness This they do by promoting prejudices against the Word of God as if the embracing of it were the way to Melancholick sadness sorrow and scorn which is indeed the way to the truest Gain and the surest Peace They that are troubled to see others minding Heaven are strangely degenerate and are become Factors for Hell and discover a most diabolical Disposition But whatsoever Persons speak against Grace and Holiness whatever they say for the continuance in a wicked way all their words are but vain words and every eaâ— should be deaf to them Eph. 5. 6. Let no man deceive you with vain words for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the Children of disobedience 3. Loose Professours of Religion are to be reproved who are indeed a discredit to the Word of God they come and hear the Word of God but what are they in their Families what are they in their Closets what are they in the whole course of their Lives Filthiness greediness after Gain excessive Drinking Impurity Covetousness these things indeed they can shew but too much of But any thing of true Holiness of Humility of Strictness of Contempt of this World of Delight in minding another World they are utter Strangers to Will you remember one Truth The Conversion of the prophane is very much hindred by the licentiousness of the Hypocrites the former won't be prevailed with to turn into the way of Truth because the latter by their evil Courses do make this way of Truth to be evil spoken of 2 Pet. 2. 2. I shall conclude with a Vse of Direction How may the Word of God be heard so as that it may be effectual to the Conversion of the hearers 1. Consent that all the Impediments of the Words efficacy should be removed Be unwilling that your hearts should be like the high-way ground utterly careless grossly Ignorant of the Truths you hear My
which indeed is not this is a daring this is a wicked addition unto the VVord of God but to expound the Scripture by it self to compare the VVord of God with it self that so we may attain to the better understanding of it this is very allowable nay it is a very needful Duty The Apostle Paul doth deliver to us an excellent Rule of Prophesie Rom. 12. 6. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of Faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In our expounding of Scripture this Analogy and proportion of Faith is very much to be observed Now this Analogy or proportion of Faith doth imply the constant mind of God in the more plain parts of the Scripture and therefore contrary unto this a sence of the more obscure parts is in no wise to be admitted The Apostle Peter tells us 2 Pet. 1. 20. That no prophesie of Scripture is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of private interpretation or of Mens own interpretation which I think it had better have been translated This interpretation it may have a double reference either to the inspired Pen-men of Scripture themselves who were the Interpreters of the Mind of God unto the Church and unto the World and they spake nothing that was private they spake nothing that was their own but all that VVord delivered in inspired Scripture it was from God. Or Secondly This Interpretation may have a reference unto the Expounders of Scripture and whosoever they are at this day that do expound the Scripture that Exposition it must not be their own Suppose there was never so great a Council assembled together suppose it was a General Council yet if they deliver any thing that is their own it would be a private Interpretation and it is in no wise to be admitted The VVord of God is a perfect VVord and by it self alone it is to be Interpreted Shall I give you three Rules I wish they were observed The Rules are these In Mans corrupt and fallen state Sin is all in all In Mans renewed state Christ with his Grace and Spirit is all in all And hereafter in Glory God will be all in all If these three Rules were observed it would help you the better to understand the whole Word of God. Thus much be spoken by way of Negation 2. I am to speak by way of Position and in several Propositions I shall tell you in what sence the VVotd of God is perfect 1. The VVord of God is perfect as a Moans and therefore in the using of it your Eye must be unto him who is the Fountain and principal â—â—ficient of all that is truely good Natural means as Food to sustain Nature Physick to recover it when it is decayed have their Efficacy from God therefore you read Mat. 4. 4. That man doth not live by Bread alone But now the VVord is a Moral means and consequently the Efficacy of it is not so common and ordinary as the Efficacy of Natural means Nature doth like that which is for its own Preservation but the Souls of men are so corrupted and besotted by sin that they utterly dislike what is for their own benefit Therefore God is seriously to be sought unto that he would bless this Means with success that of his own will he would accompany his VVord and make it effectual to Regeneration James 1. 18. Of his own will begat he us by the Word of Truth Brethren the Means of Grace are to be used as Means and in no wise are they to be advanced higher as if their Efficacy was of themselves Being satisfied in the work done O how many thousands hath it hindered from working out their own Salvation and they have perished for ever because they have thought that bare using of the Means of Grace was sufficient to save them God is very much provoked to Jealousie when we place confidence in our own Endeavours or in the Means of Grace which he hath instituted You are forward to hear the Word of God but you must remember that the Word of God will never be effectual unto your enlivening unto your eternal Happiness unless God work like himself along with it You must hear but your Hope must not be in the Word it self consider'd alone by it self but your Hope must be in God whose Word it is For he hath said Look unto me and be saved all ye ends of the Earth 2. When the first Part of this Word of God was written and given as a Rule of Faith and Worship and Life it was perfect considering the Churches present State. When Israel had no more than Moses's writings that Revelation was perfect and sufficient concerning the will of the God of Israel considering the present state of Israel therefore you read Num. 10. 7. That Moses was faithful in all the House of God. God himself gives him this Testimony He set before Israel life and death and told them the way how the one might be escaped and how the other might be obtained Deut. 30. 19. Moses did faithfully deliver the Moral Law that was first spoken by Gods own Voice and afterwards writ with his own Finger and which is indeed of perpetual Obligation He likewise did faithfully deliver the Ceremonial Law and the Ordinances of it which was a Pre-signification of Jesus Christ what he was to doe how he was to suffer and to dye that he might make an Atonement for Sin and that he might sanctifie and cleanse his Church and People The Apostle Gal. 3. 24. sayes That the Law was our School-master to bring us unto Christ The Moral Law doth force sensible Sinners unto Christ because from the Curse of it they can be delivered no other way but by a Mediator But the Ceremonial Law doth instruct concerning Christ and doth notably display his Sufferings his Satisfaction that he made to the Justice of God and the Benefits of his Crucifixion and so it is our School-master to bring us unto Christ And Moses added the Judicial Law which concerned Israel as they were a Theocracy as they were a Common-wealth of Gods own Ordination and contrivance Thus the Word as a Rule of Faith and Life was perfect and by this Word of God the Elect were instructed to turn to God and at last brought safe to Glory 3. When the New Testament was added to the Old then the Church had the most perfect the most large and compleat Edition of the Word of God. And this was suited unto the Churches Age of greater maturity Heb. 1. 1. God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake aforetime unto our Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son. And truly the Son who is in the bosom of the Father hath made the fullest Declaration of the Father and of his Will unto the Children of men Christ telleth his Disciples how they were Priviledged in seeing him the
you will deem your selves you will be â—ost about with every wind of Doctrine your Heads and Hearts too will be strongly possest by the evil Spirit and having run through all Forms of Religion you may at length cast off the very Profession and Form of Godliness and degenerate even into the rankest Atheism living and oh dreadful dying also without God! 2. Take heed of those who charge the written Word of God with Impersection whatever pains such may take to make Proselytes of you certainly they are not likely to turn you to God who endeavour to instill a prejudice into you against his Word They that disparage the Holy Scripture as unnecessary as obscure as onely occasionally written and not fully declaring the Mind of God whatever they pretend really the Scripture is against them and their false Opinions and carnal Interest and that 's the true ground of their quarrel with it Open the door for unwritten Traditions and at that Door the foulest Heresies will presently enter and pretend to great Antiquity nay to Divine Authority St. Cyprian Epist 74. Vnde est ista Traditio utrum de dominica evangelica auctoritate descendens an de Apostolorum mandatis atque epistolia â—eniens Eâ—â—nim facienda quae scripâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Dâ—â—â— testatur Si ergo in Evangelio praecipitur aut in Apostolorum 〈…〉 Actibus contiâ—â—tur observetur hac divina 〈◊〉 sanctae traditio Cyprian Epist 74. Pompeio fratri tells us plainly That that is to be allowed as an holy and divine tradition that is commanded in the Gospel or contained in the Epistles or Acts of the Apostles This Man was a Father very Ancient and a Martyr too for the Faith of Christ Keep stedfast and attentive to the Word of God. They who would lead you into Paths no where in Scripture to be found would mislead you Christ is to be heard and 't is in his Word that his voice sounds his own sheep know his voice and follow him but a Stranger they will not follow but will flee from him for they know not the voice of Strangers Joh. 10. 4 5. The Apostle signifies that they who teach a voluntary humility the worshipping of Angels the neglect of the body or any other Will-worship though there be never so great a shew of wisdom in it they do but go about to beguile others and are vainly puft up with a fleshly mind themselves because these things have no warrant from the Word of God Col. 2. 18. 23. 3. Take heed of of a profane contempt of this Word of God which is such a perfect Remedy and which you all do so much need What are you more afraid of the Medicine than the Malady More afraid of that VVord which is such a means to turn you than of Sin which is ready to ruine you To throw your Silver and Gold about the Streets to burn your Houses down to the ground setting Fire to them with your own hands to cast your Food which you should live upon unto the Dogs is nothing neer so pernicious a madness as to contemn the Word of God the great Means of Conversion and Salvation Preferr not the Curse before the Blessing when both are set before you Chuse not death when if you are but willing to live Holily and Happily Eternal Life will be your own Esau is branded as a profane and foolish Wretch who for one morfel of Meat sold his Birth-right Heb. 12. 16. And what folly and profaneness will you discover if you mind only the vanities of this World the fashion of which passes away and neglect all that Grace and Glory whereof in the Word of God you have so full and compleat a discovery Where is the Faith where is the Reason where is the Self-love of that Man who despiseth a perfect Word which perfectly shewes the way to an everlasting Kingdom Consider this and shew your selves Men O ye Transgressors VSE II. Of Counsel and that in several particulars 1. Take notice of the Divinity of the Word in its Perfection God himself is Perfect his works are perfect and so is his VVord The Words Perfection shews its Original Divine Wisdom Holiness Grace and Mercy how illustrious are they in the Scripture The Laws from Mount Sinai are such in both the Tables as speak more than what is Humane more than the disposition of Angels and evidently shew that the Wise the Good the Righteous Jehovah was the Legislator The Mysteries of the Gospel are the deep things of God 1 Cor. 10. 11. which could never have entred into Mans Heart and Understanding if the Spirit of God had not revealed them Here is a Depth of counsel and knowledg an highth of Love which was from Eternity which shall never change in time and which will continue unalterable to Eternity Precepts are plain and full Promises precious threats though severe yet needful One God is made known and one Mediator between God and Men the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2. 5. Distinctions ubi lex non distinguit where the Word distinguishes not are in no wise to be admitted It is through the Son not by Angels and Saints in Heaven that we have access by one Spirit unto the Father Eph. 2. 18. This is the true Worship this is the right way keep in it and be safe There are several external motives of credibility and there are intrinsick evidences in the word it self that 't is of God and among the rest its Perfection is a great one And 't is observable that they who deny its Perfection do make its Authority to be dependent and precarious 2. Admire the Perfection and fulness of the written Word It was a noble saying of * Scriptuâ— esse doceat Hermogenis officina si non est scriptum timeat Vae illud adjicientibus aut detrahentibus destitiatum Tertul. lib. adversus Hermog cap. 22. Tertullian Adoro Scripturae plenitudinem I adore the fulness of the Scripture We need no more than what is there upon record to bring us to the true knowledg of God and to make us increase in spiritual understanding and the more we look into the Scripture we shall still see more and more in it to raise our admiration to take our Hearts and our Affections The Scripture is a Mine out of which comes nothing but what is Sound and Pure helps to understand it are to be valued But by these helps we must take heed of being drawn off from it self This Mine is farther and farther to be searched into for we are to be growing in Grace and Knowledge all our days 2 Pet. 3. ult And Solomon tells us that this searching will not be lost labour Prov. 2. 4 5 6 7. If thou seekest her as Silver and searchest for her as for hid treasure then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the Knowledg of God for the Lord giveth wisdom out of his Mouth cometh Knowledge and Vnderstanding he layeth up sound wisdom for